Signal operating switch



' Oct. 9, 1934. A. J. GERHART SIGNAL OPERAfiY'ING SWITCH Filed Aug. 30, 1930 2 Sheets-Shet l I VINVENTOR. g/J l ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 9, 1934.

A. J. GERHART SIGNAL OPERATING SWITCH Filed Aug. 50, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M II-JIIIIIHIIIJIHHI yllllilf n W a143 Mb y 4 uni/7g M ATTORNEYS.

reference Patented Oct. 9, 1 934 PATENT OFFICE 1,976,690 SIGNAL OPERATING swrro n Arthur J. Gerhart, Lorain, Ohio Application August 30, 1930, Serial No. 479,013 1 Claims. (01. 200-59) 7 The present invention relates to improvementsflin circuit makers and breakers and has reference more particularly to a signalling operating switch embodying certain improvements over the switch construction disclosed in my copending application. i i

More particularly, the present invention aims to provide a signal operating switch wherein the movement of the foot to either side of the accelzm erator foot pedal will result in one of the foot engaging members to be operatedinto contactingengagement withthe stationary contact to close the circuit to the particular direction signal mounted in any suitable type on the vehicle .1 for warning pursuing as well as approaching drivers when a turn in either direction is about to be made. 7 7 Still another object is to provide a signal operatingswitch oi the above mentioned character wherein a pair of foot engaging members are pivotally mounted adjacent the foot accelerator pedal; said foot engaging members being automatically moved to an inoperative position when the accelerator foot pedal is depressed.

i Other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. In thaccompanying drawings wherein like characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the signal operating switch embodying my invention showing the same with the movable contacts out of engagement withthe respective stationary contacts;

'Figure 2 is a top plan view. 1 Figures is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the left pair or" contacts inengagement for clos- 7 ingthe circuit to the left hand signal.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 4-4 of Figure 1 lookingin thedirection of the arrows, and a Figure 5 is a similar section drawn on a large scale and taken on the line 5 --5 of the same figuregand also looking in the same direction. In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates the o "floor board of an automobile and extending through the floor board isthe foot accelerator pedal 2. Secured on'the'floor board 1 is'the base plate 3, the same being arranged adjacent the footpedal 2 and upstanding ears 4 and 5 1 are iormeduon-the respective ends of the base plate for disposition on opposite sides of the accelerator pedal 2 as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2.

My improved signal operating switch'includes a pair of stationary contacts deno-ted by the Q, numerals 6 and 7, respectively, the same being arranged transversely on the lower portion of the upstanding ears 4 and 5, respectively. Attention is now particularly directed to Figure 5 of the drawings wherein there is shown intdetail, 6 5; the construction of each stationary contact and it will be observed that each stationary contact includes a threaded bolt 8 that is disposed through an insulated bushing 9 fitted in an opening formed in the upstanding lugs or ears at 7 9; each end of the base plate. A metallic sleeve 10 encircles the forward end portion of the bolt 8 while a thumb nut 12 is threaded on the inner end of the bolt for cooperation with the nut 13 to provide a binding post to which the conductor 75, wire is connected in the usual manner. An insulated washer 14 encircles the bolt 8 on each side of the upstanding ear or lug to space the sleeve and nut 11 and 13, respectively from said ear.

Also forming an important part of my improved signal operating switch are the substantially T-shaped foot engaging members denoted by the numerals 15 and 16, respectively. The leg portion 17 of these T-shaped foot engaging members are arranged substantially horizontally while the arm portions 18 and 19 of each T-shaped foot engaging member are normally disposed in a substantially vertical position. A pivot forming bolt 20 extends through the inter- 0 mediate portion of each arm 18 and theupper portion of the respective upstanding ear or lug on the base plate and for the purpose of maintaining the pivotally mounted foot engaging member against casual swinging movement, I provide the coil spring, 21 that encircles the outer end portion of each bolt 20 in the manner as more clearly disclosed in Figure 5. n

The spring 21 will frictionally hold each T- shaped foot engaging member in any position to which the same has been'moved yet Will/not interfere with the'manual movement of the T- shaped foot engaging member. The lower. end of the arm 18 of each foot engaging member constitutes a movable contact for cooperation with the respective stationary contacts. The legs 17 0f the T-shaped foot engaging members are arranged on opposite side of the foot accelerator pedal 2 and the free ends of these leg members operator moves his foot to the left along the leg portion 17 of the foot engagingmember l'lrso that the foot of the operator will strike the arm 19 and will cause the foot engaging member 15 to swing on its pivot 20 until the contact 18 is brought into engagement with the stationary contact 6. Thereupon, the circuit to the signal lamp indicating that a left hand turn i's'ab'out'to be made will be closed.

When the operator again depressesv the foot accelerator pedal 2, thesam'e'will' engagethe free end of the leg 1'7 to cause the footengaging member 15 to again be swung to its normal position moving the contact-18 out of engagement with the contact 6 and breaking the circuit to the left hand turn signal lamp. i The right hand" signal lamp closing circuit is operated in asimilar manner. a T a It will thus be seen from the foregoing description', that I have provided a signal operating switch tha't is controlled by the foot of the operator thus'eliminating the necessity of having to remove the hands from the steering wheel when it'is desired to give a signal that aturn either to the left or right is about to be made. Also the movable contacts are automatically moved to an inoperative position when the foot accelerator pedal is actuated. 7 While I have shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in' the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the inventionand the scope of theappended claims. Having thus described the invention what is claimed'iszi 1. A signal operating switch comprising in combination with an automobile foot accelerator pedal, a pair of bracketsarrangedon opposite sides of the pedal in spaced relation thereto, stationary contacts mounted on the brackets, substantially T-shaped 'foot engaging members having their arm portions disposed vertically, the lower arm of each T-shaped foot engaging member being pivoted on" the respective bracket and iorming a movable contact for cooperation with. the respective stationary} contacts, said movable contact being brought into engagement with the stationary contact whenthe' foot engages the upper arm of said T-shaped member and moves the same outwardly, the free ends of the leg portions of said T-shaped members being disposed during the path of movement oi the head of the foot accelerator pedalifor automatically moving the -movable*contacts *outoif engagement'with the stationary ccritactsr 2.'A signal operating switch comprising in combination with" an automobile foot accelerator pedal, a pair of brackets arranged on opposite sidesof the pedal in spacedrelation thereto, stationary contacts mounted on the brackets, substantially T-shaped foot engaging members having their arm portions disposed vertically,

the lower armof each T-shaped foot engaging member being pivoted on the respective bracket and forming a movable contact for cooperation with the respective stationaryqcontacts, said engaged contacts will be opened.

movable contact being brought into engagement with the stationary contact when the foot engages the upper arm of said T-shaped member and moves the same outwardly, the free ends of' the leg portions of said T-shaped members being disposed during the path of movement of the head of the foot accelerator pedal for automatically moving the movable contacts out of engagement with the stationary contacts, and means associated with'the pivots formhe T- shaped foot engaging member to prevent casual swinging movement thereof.

.3. A signal operating switch comprising in combination, a base plate adapted to be secured on the floor board of an automobile adjacent the 1 foot accelerator pedal thereof, upstanding ears, formed on said plate for disposition on opposite sides of the foot accelerator pedals, stationary contacts mounted on the respective upstanding ears, foot engaging members pivotally mounted on the respective ears, the pivoted endsof the foot engaging members forming movable contacts for selective engagement with the respective stationary contacts when said foot ,engagingmembers are moved in an outward direction, said foot engaging, members being formed withmeans for disposition withinithe pa'thflof movement of the accelerator pedal whereby-the movable. contacts are automatically moved to an inoperative pedalis depressed. V

4. A signal operating switch comprising in combination, a pair of pivot supports adapted to be secured upon an automobile adjacent the accelerator pedalv thereof, a lever pivoted on each support, one arm of each lever extending under an overhanging portion of the pedal whereby upon depression of the pedal, the levers may .be: rocked, a pair of stationary contacts, a movable contact associated with each .ofthepedalfand spacedapart to receive therebetween an, operators foot when on the pedal, whereby when the pedal is elevated, either lever may be reversely rocked by a lateral movement .ofi-the foot to engage a corresponding pair of contacts and when the pedal is depressed the :5. A signal operating switch comprising in combination, a pair of pivot supports adapted to be secured upon. an automobile adjacent the acceleratorpedal thereof, a lever pivoted on each support, one arm of each lever extending under an overhanging p rtion of the pedal whereby upon depression of the pedal, the levers may be rocked,.,a pair of stationary contacts, a movable contact associated With-each lever movable contacts upon said rocking movement of the lever, the levers having respectively upstanding portions disposed on opposite sides of the pedal and spaced apart to; receive therebetween an contacts will be opened, and friction producing means at the lever pivot tendingtoresist move ment of the levers in any position thereof. 6. In a signal'apparatus, a depressible pedal position when the foot its if; out of engagement with one of said stationary a havingia nqrmalelevated position,..a;.-pairof electric switches comprising each engageable and disengageable contacts, foot operable means associated with the pedal movable to effect engagement of the contact of either switch selectively, only when the pedal is in elevated position, and operable by depressive movement of the pedal to disengage the selectively engaged contacts.

7. In a signal apparatus, a depressible pedal having a normal elevated position, a pair of electric switches comprising each engageable and disengageable contacts, a foot operable means associated with the pedal, movable by a lateral foot movement to efiect engagement of the contact of either switch selectively, only when the pedal is in elevated position, and op erable by depressive movement of the pedal to disengage the selectively engaged contacts.

8. In a signal apparatus, a pair of electric switches comprising each engageable and disengageable contacts, a depressible pedal having an elevated contact disengaged position, foot operable means associated with the pedal movable to effect engagement of the contact of either switch selectively, only when the pedal is in elevated position, and operable by depressive movement of the pedal to disengage the selectively engaged contacts.

9. In a signal apparatus for vehicles to indicate intended changes of the vehicle direction, a depressible pedal having an elevated position, a pair of electric switches comprising each engageable and disengageable contacts, foot operable means associated with the pedal operable by directional movement of the vehicle operators foot related to intended vehicle direction, for effecting engagement of the contact of either switch selectively, only when the pedal is in elevated position, and operable by depressive movement of the pedal to disengage the selectively engaged contacts.

10. In a signal apparatus, a depressible pedalhaving a normal elevated position, a pair of electric switches comprising each engageable and disengageable contacts, a foot operable means associated with the pedal movable to eiTect engagement of the contacts of either switch selectively only when the pedal is in elevated position, the selectively engaged contacts adapted to remain engaged and to be disengaged only by foot depressed movement of the pedal.

11. In a signal switch apparatus for vehicles to indicate intended changes of the vehicle direction, a pair of electric switches comprising each engageable and disengageable contacts, a depressible pedal having an elevated contact disengaged position, foot operable means associated with the pedal operable by directional movement of the vehicle operators foot related to intended vehicle direction for effecting engagement of the contacts of either switch selectively, only when the pedal is in elevated position, the selectively engaged contacts adapted to remain engaged and to be disengaged only by foot depressed movement of the pedal.

12. In a signal apparatus for automotive vehicles to indicate intended changes of vehicle direction, a pair of electric switches comprising each engageable and disengageable contacts, a pedal depressible to increase the supply of fuel to the vehicle engine and having an elevated contact disengaged position, foot operable means associated with the pedal operable by directional movement of the vehicle operators foot related to intended vehicle direction for efiecting engagement of the contacts of either switch selectively, only when the pedal is in elevated position, the selectively engaged contacts adapted to remain engaged and to be disengaged only by foot depressed movement of the pedal, a lamp circuit and lamp associated with each switch whereby upon elevation of the pedal to decrease supply of fuel to the vehicle engine, either lamp may be selectively energized to indicate intended change of direction and will remain selectively energized and may be de-energized only by depressive movement of the pedal to supply fuel to the engine.

13. In a signal apparatus, a depressible pedal having an elevated position, a pair of electric switches comprising each engageable and disengageable contacts, a foot-engageable means associated with the pedal movable by a foot operation to effect engagement of the contacts at either switch selectively, the selectively engaged contacts adapted to remain engaged upon footdisengagement of the foot engageable meansand to be disengaged by a foot depressed movement of the pedal.

14. In a signal apparatus, a depressible pedal having an elevated position, a pair of electric switches comprising each engageable and disengageable contacts, a foot-engageable means associated with the pedal movable by a lateral foot operating movement to efiect engagement of the contacts at either switch selectively, the selectively engaged contacts adapted to remain engaged upon foot disengagement of the foot engageable means and to be disengaged by foot depressed movement of the pedal.

15. In a signal switch apparatus for vehicles to indicate intended changes of the vehicle direction, a pair of electric switches comprising each engageable and disengageable contacts, a depressible pedal having an elevated contact dis- 120 engaged position, foot engageable means associated with the pedal operable by a directional movement of the vehicle operators foot in engagement therewith related to intended vehicle direction for effecting engagement of the con- 5 tacts at either switch selectively, the selectively engaged contacts adapted to remain engaged irrespective of foot engagement with the footengageable means and to be disengaged by foot depressed movement of the pedal.

16. In control means for a signal apparatus adapted for use on automotive vehicles and employing a pair of electric signaling means adapted to be selectively energized to indicate intended changes of direction of the vehicle and 135 having switch controlled circuit means to energize said electric signaling means, a depressible pedal having a normal elevated position, foot engageable means associated with the pedal movable by foot operation to effect closing of the 140 switch controlling either circuit selectively, the selectively closed switch adapted to remain closed upon foot disengagement of the foot engageable means and to be opened by foot de- ARTHUR J. v GERHART. 

